WHAT WILL BE DONE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1917, Page 4

WHAT WILL BE DONE.

If America Makes War. < German Plot to Blow Up interned Ships. ’ New York, Feb 1 “IE the Germans want to blow up i. their eighty ships ioteraed in this I country in event of war with the United States, there ig nothing that can prevent them. A man coaid carry enough explosive aboard in hia pocket to blow np each vessel.” This was the statement of a Government official when told the “ New York American ” had information that a plan was on foot to blow up every German ship interned in American ports should war be declared between the two countries. At the same time Ougtoms officials admitted word of each a plot had cooie to them, and said they were taking precautions. A thorough search of all the ships was made, and, while the officials would not admit it was for the purposa of discovaring explosives, one authority said “We searched the vessels interned in Hoboken from stem to stern, and yoa can take it as a fact that there are no explosives on board any of them. We osn absolutely prevent them from making a dash to sea by keeping a check on the coal put on board. Bat if they decide to blow up the ships to keep them from falling into the hands of the United States, I can see no way to prevent it.” NEUTRALTY SQUAD DOUBLED. It was admitted that since the word of the plot had reached the Department of Justice, the nentralty squad of the port had baen inoreased 100 per cent. Bat under the treaty between the Uuited States and Germany before the Collector of the port can search a vessel he must notifiy the German Consul-General that the search is to take place. In other words, if the United States Government is going aboard the Yaterland in the afternoon to laok for explosives, the German Consul must be notified of it in time for him to.be present, if he so desires. According to the “New York American’s ” information, the plot involve! the placing aboard of all the eighty ships interned in Ammican ports sufficient quantity of explosives to destroy them. This plot, it is said, was conceived soon after the sinking of the Lusitania. The destruction of the vessels was to follow receipt of word of declaration of war by the ships' commanders, and was to be as nearly simultaneous as pas-' sible. ELABORATE SPY SYSTEM. There now exists around the German and Austrian vessels interned in the port of New York an extensive spy system, in which oue set of spies is keeping watch on the other. Seventy-three members of the neutrality squad and a Customs guard of 30 men are wotohing the vessels for the Collector of the port. , A detail of secret service men, soma of them working as longshoremen, are performing the same service for the United States Government. Operatives of the British Government, reinforced by picked men from Scotland Yard, are operating under the direction of the British Consul. Back of these lines is the elaborate spy system of the German Empire, which has been extended since the Lusitania incident. At 8 o’clock each night all the ships are inspected by the neutrality squad of the port. Again at 12 o’clock the rounds of the ships are made. No Americans are permitted aboard the ships unless they are Government officials and then only after the treaty regulations have been complied with. _SHIPS IN GOOD CONDITION The steamships are being: kept in excellent condition. From a German source it was learned that a mechanical device had been invented for cleaning the vessels’ bottoms. This device is lowered each night and part of the boat’s bottom scraped. Divers also have been working at intervals.

The Department of Justice in this city was absolutely Bilent regarding the reported p’ot, referring all questions to the department in Washington.